As we look ahead to the 2017 Texas high school football season, DCTF's Brady Keane takes a look at how each region should shake out when fall rolls around.

The 2017 Texas high school football season will be here before you know it, and in a year without UIL realignment, we have a grasp on who should challenge for region — and state — titles across the state. We’ll take a closer look at the frontrunners in each region throughout the spring doldrums.

The 2017 season in Region II was headlined by The Woodlands’ magical run to the state championship game, especially on the heels of the tragic injury of Grant Milton during a playoff game. After being hit hard by graduation, the Highlanders must reload in a region filled with team’s looking to build on strong performances last season.

Klein Collins

Drew Svoboda led Collins to a school-record 13 wins last season, and the Tigers surged into the state semifinals until a second-half Desoto comeback ended their campaign.

The Tigers will have a new quarterback running the offense and will be without 1,900-yard rusher D’Anthony Doyle. But Svoboda has Josh Powell and Isaiah Spiller to turn to in the run-heavy offense after the duo combined for 1,217 yards and 20 touchdowns on just 122 carries last year. The defense also gets a monster back in defensive lineman Donavan Mutin, who had 101 tackles, 14 TFL and 10 sacks last season.

Spring Westfield

Coach Matt Meekins has won at least 10 games in each of his first two seasons at Westfield, and this could be the year the Mustangs break through as regional champs. Quarterback Blair Benton is back to command the offense in his senior season. Like Klein Collins, Westfield will be without its leading rusher in Daniel Young. But the Mustangs return both Rayshawn James and Braelon Bland, giving them a dynamic tandem in the backfield.

James and Bland will anchor the offensive attack while defensive tackle Keondre Coburn returns as one of the top recruits in the state in the class of 2018. Westfield struggled out of the gates with three straight loses to begin last season and will look to build off last season’s late run to get started this year.

Coppell

The Cowboys went 10-3 and won eight straight games last year before falling in a shootout to Round Rock in the third round of the playoffs. But after averaging almost 400 yards of offense last year, Coppell gets the majority of its firepower back.

Brady McBride is entering senior season at quarterback and will have the latest McDaniel brother – TJ – as his workhorse running back. Blake Jackson and Gabriel Lemons are both back at receiver, and coach Mike DeWitt will be looking to build off his first 10-win season.

Tyler John Tyler

Like Coppell, Tyler rattled off eight straight wins to close out the 2016 season before falling to Klein Collins. Quarterback Bryson Smith is off to Houston after accounting for 55 touchdowns last season; that will leave a void, but Cameron Grant rushed for 873 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. The return of Michael Givens, Devlen Woods and Keandre Street leaves plenty of talent on the outside of the offense.

After holding opposing offenses to fewer than 20 points per game during the regular season, the Lions defense will be strong again behind Tre Allison, DeKalen Goodson and Tyus Grayson.